Vacuum-tube socket



Dec. 3, 1929. M, ALBEN 1,738,028

VACUUM TUBE SOCKET Filed April l2 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l IIm f INVENTOR,

TORNEY.

Dec. 3, 1929. M. ALDEN 1,733,028

VACUUM TUBE SOCKET Filed April 12 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet '2 IN1/EN TOR,M1750 3mm,

@71W M www.

A TTORNE Y.

fill

l,Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED fsTaTl-:s

PATENT o1-'FICE HILTON' ALBEN, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOBT0 ALBEN MUFAC- T'UBING COMPANY, 0l' SPRINGFIELD, KASSACHUSETTS, A.COBYOBATIONDF KASSA- CHUSETTS vacuum-TUBE socializarv mutation mea apra12,

The present invention and application is a continuation in part of mycopending a plication, filed Fe ruary 27, 1923, Ser. o. 621,575, :forSocket for vacuum tubes now Patent #1,580,942. I

This invention relates to-improvements 1n vacuum tube sockets. A

An objectl of the invention is to provide a device for firmly retainingthe vacuum tube of a radio apparatus rmly in its socket and at the sametime, to prov1de good electrlcal contact between all of the contactmembers of the socket and the prongs of the tube.

A further object is to retain the vacuum tube on the socket byfrictional resistance only which will permit the prongs of the tube tobe inserted by moving the tube downward along its axis and to permit ltsremoval 1n the same way by ulling upward, or 1n other words it may beefined as a direct push and pull socket, in contradistinction to thattype of socket in which a barrel portion is provided with a slot, orgroove in the side thereof to receive the pin on the tube, whereby thetube must be rotated slightly in order to lock 1t 1n place in thesocket.

A further object is in the location, shape and size of the ron receivingopenings for insuring flexibihty o contact.

A further object is to provide a socket for receiving vacuum tubes withpins of varylng size and having elongated openlngs so os1 tioned toprovide correct insertion 4o the tubes.

The invention is ca able of several modifications yet all embo ying thesame general features.

Referring to the drawlngs:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of socket showing thebase portlon of a vacuum tube broken away and with the contact prongsinserted in the socket.

Fig. 2 is a modification in which some of the openin s .in the upperportlon of the socket are ormed substantia ly elliptical or elongated2whereby prongs of various siaes and positions on a vacuum tube may be1nserted and if necessary slightly rotated, or, in other words, thesocket might be defined as universal.

1926. Serial K0. 101,311.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on `the line .3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top Elan view of a further modicatlon in whic the shape ofthe contact arms are f'ormed with a short bend, and with a de endingportion with which portions, the sides of the ,Contact prongs engage.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the,

line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the rongs on the tube in contact with thedepending portions.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Flg. 7 showing a furthermodification in which the upper inner end of the contact strip is freeto move and when the tube is inserted the strip` operates to Vexert acounter pressure 1n the opposite direction to that exerted by theressure of the inserted prong for placing t e contact strip under stressfor maklng a good contact.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a bottom lan view of Fig. 7 omittin one contact spring.

ig. 9 is a further modification in which the contact stri s are foldedinward towards each other, andp engage opposite sides of the prongs ofthe tube.

' Fig. 10 is a detail view of one of the coni tact strips with one ofthe contact prongs about to be inserted.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of a further modification in which the outersurface of the contact strips normally engage a fixed stop.

E Fig. 12 is a further modification in which the contact strips engage afixed stop and are under constant stress or tension.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates a socket oltion as a Whole having the base part 2, theledge part 3, the upwardly inclined portion 4 and the top part 5 whichis formed with openings 6 to receive the prongs 7 of a vacuum tube 8. 9designates the contact strips which are secured to the base part 2 bymeans of the threaded bolts 10 and the thumb nuts 11. These strips areformed with a bend at the point 12 intermediate its ends and an upwardlyextending portion 13 which .normally projects slightly beneath the prongreceiving openings 6. The lower ends of the strips are inclined, asshown to fit the under side of the ledge part 3. The upwardly extendingportion 13 therefore forms a long contact and wiping surface for theprongs 7 of the tube and permits the tube to be inserted by moving it ina direction which coincides with the axial line of the socket and iswithdrawn by pulling it upward in this axial line. or in other words itis a push and pull socket, the frictioual resistance alone beingsuflicient to retain the tube in place on the socket.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 the upper top portion 14 ot' the socket isformed with openings 15 and 16 ot elongated or elliptical shapedformation while the openings 17 and 18 are circular and are or differentsizes, whereby the prongs 19 of the tube 8, shown in Fig. 3, may beinserted in these openings for making cont-act with the tlexible'orelastic contact strips 20 below the openings and even it' the prongs ofthe tube are of different sizes the elongated o enings will permit tubeshaving prongs o different sizes and location to be inserted and slightlyrotated if necessary for making contact. The arrangement of the contactstrips is such that the prongs 19 frictionally engages the same. Thesecontact strips have an upwardly projecting portion 21 and an inwardlyextending bent Jortion 22 which rests against the inner wa 23. 1When theprongs 19 are inserted the part 21 will yield sufliciently at the pointof contact 24 to form a good electrical connection between thev stripsand the prongs, or, the strips will oier a frictional resistance in theopposite direction to the pressure of the prongs there against. Thefriction alone being suilicient to hold the tube in place without anyother v locking devices.

It should be stated that the ledge portion 25, see Fig. 2, has markedthereon, the words lin here and an arrow as indicated at 26. This is forthe purpose of properly locating thetube on the socket in order toprevent the filament of the'tube from being burned out in case a wrongconnection with the battery terminals is made.

Figs. 4 and 5 are for a modification in which the contact strips 27 areformed with a short bend 28 at their upper inner ends and a shortdepending part 29 with which the tube prongs 30 engage when inserted.This construction atl'ords a long yieldable arm part 31 together withthe short contact part 29.

Figs. G, 7, and 8 are for a further modiication in which the base part32 is recessed as shown. This construction is formed with the topportion 33 having the openings 33 to receive the prongs 34 ol the tubeas before. 35 is an annular recess at the upper end portion of therecess which is for strengthening purposes. If desired the part 43 mayengage the boss when the tube is inserted. 36 is a depending or bossportion. 37 are the contact strips which are attached at their lowerends to the base portion 32 by means of the small screws 38 and nuts 39.The inner lends of the contact strips 37 are bent at 40 and then extendupward at 41, their upper ends terminating in the reversely bent tips43. When the prongs 34 are inserted in the openings 33 they will slidedown and on the outer surfaces of the strips. This operation will placestill further stress on these strips in a lateral direction which may beindicated by the dotted lines 45. The tubes will therefore be firmlyretained in place on the socket, by friction alone. 47 are the securingscrews for the strips 37. The strips must yield laterall when the prongs34 are inserted. The strips therefore make good electrical contact atall times both during the insertion and removal of the prongs becauseot' the constant stress which is imparted to the strips. 37 designatethe usual openings to receive the attaching screws.

ln Fig. 10 thecontact strip 48 is formed with two struck up portions 49and 50 having the downwardly inturned ends 51 and 52 which, as shown, donot quite meet. The prongs 53 when inserted make contact with theseinturned portions and on opposite sides ol the same whereby a doublecontact is made. This construction is such that the tube is retained inplace by friction alone. In all of these forms of sockets the tube isunderstood as being retained in place by friction alone yet permittingit to be readily inserted and removed.

Referrin toFig. l'l'fthe contact strips 54 are un er a bending stress atall times since they are soshapedl or bent when formed as to normallyexert a pressure on the shoulders 55 formed in the sides of the openingsfor the prongs as shown in this figure. When the prongs 56 of the vacuumtube are inserted they will engage the downwardly extending part 57 andplace still greater stress on the contact strips. These strips aretherefore under stress at all times and whether or not a tube isinserted.

Fig. 12 illustrates a modification in which the contact strips 58 are soshaped, or bent, when formed, that the curved part 59 normally engagesthe shoulder G0 which extends into and terminates at the prong receivingopenings 61, or in other words, the curved part 59 extends across theopenings 61, whereby, when the prongs 62 are inserted they will engagethe outer surface and move them inward against the tension or set of thestrips. A comparison of the two positions of the strips in Fig. 12clearly illustrates the idea that these strips are normally under stressor tension when attached to the base piece by the bolts 63. Frictionalone operates to retain the tubes in place.

One of the advantages of my improvementY llll) lli tupes having shortprongs or contact termina s.

'lhe socket, as shown in Fig. 2 illustrates elongated openings ofdifferent sizes for receiving contact prongs or pins of different sizesand location. This is important as dif- "erent types ot vacuum tubeshave difl'erent sizes and positions oit contact pins.

llt is to be understood that the present socket construction is designedto receive vacuum tubes having comparatively short or long prongs orpins as well as pins of varying diameters and location as regards tocenter. rthe dimensions in the drawings are illustrative and not drawnto scale.

lflhatl claim is:

l. A vacuum tube socket comprising an insulating base having aperforated top with a dependingI Wall, an outwardly extending flange anda supporting edge and having a chamber enclosed by said parts, the lowerwall et said flange being inclined relative to the top and conductingmembers each formed titi ot a single strip of spring metal bentintermediate its ends and having its outer end secured to said inclinedlower wall of said *flange and its opposite end extending upwardly andadjacent the lower edge of one of the perlorations in the top.

2. A vacuum tube socket comprising an insulating base having aperforated top with a depending wall, and an outwardly and downwardlyextending ange, and having a chamber enclosed by said parts, andconducting members each formed of a single strip ol spring metal bentintermediate its ends and having an outer spring arm secured to a lowerwall of said ange and an inner spring end extending inclined upwardlyand adjacent the lower edge ot one of the perforations in the top.

3. l vacuum tube socket comprising an insulating base having a top witha number ot perloratons of different sizes and a depending?` wall and anoutwardly and down wardly extending flange and having a cham berenclosed thereby, a lower wall of said flange being arranged below thetop and conducting members each formed of a single strip ot spring metalbent upwardly intermediate its ends and having its lower and outer endsecured to said lower wall of said Harige and its upper and innercontact end extending upwardly adjacent the lower edge of one of theperforations in the top with a yielding contact surface in position tobe en gaged by a side wall ot a tube prong, said contact ends beingadapted to coact with prongs of different diameters and to yieldindependently of each other, A

4. A vacuum tube socket comprising an insulating base having a top withfour perforations and a depending wall and an outwardly and downwardlyextending ange and hav- I ing a chamber enclosed by said parts, a lowerlli lid

